Create a non-traditional Christmas card using non-traditional themes or colours!

Today’s challenge is extra fun — we are officially on the Naughty List! 😜
That means ditching the classic Christmas red & green (well… maybe just bending the rules a little 😏) and leaning into something unexpected, bold, and totally YOU.

And honestly? I am obsessed with how today’s card turned out.

Graphic for “12 Days of Christmas – Day 4: The Naughty List” creative challenge by The Stamping Lounge. Cardmakers are encouraged to design a non-traditional Christmas card using unexpected themes or colours. Candy cane patterned teal background. Hashtag #TSL12daysofChristmas.

🍹✨ Festive Drinks… but Make It Christmas!

For this challenge I leaned into one of my fave bundles — Stampin’ Up!’s Cheers & Sips Bundle/cocktail theme vibes — because who says Christmas can’t look like fruity cocktails, tropical colour palettes & summer celebrations? Especially here in Australia where Christmas = sunshine & pool days 🏖️

I watercoloured bright glasses in punchy vibrant tones — Calypso Coral, Lemon Lime Twist, Blackberry Bliss & Strawberry Slush — with pops of sparkle & citrus slices 🍋🍓 and wrapped it all together with a bold Merry Christmas sentiment.

A little gold & white baker’s twine & dreamy texture embossing magic ✨
Boom — festive sparkle with a cheeky twist!

🎄 Inside the card

I kept the inside sweet + simple with a fun little sentiment:
Cheers — let’s celebrate!
(Perfect for Christmas lunch toasts… or New Year’s cocktails 😉)

A handmade Christmas card featuring three colorful watercolor drinks in red, lime, and purple shades with embossed textured panels behind them. The drinks are decorated with citrus slices, berries, and leafy sprigs. The bold sentiment “Merry Christmas” is centered in black and white script, layered on twine. The background is crisp white with subtle ink splatter and playful festive embellishments.

Close-up of the same card, showing detailed watercolour glass illustrations with fruits like strawberries and lemons, embossed background strips, and the layered “Merry Christmas” sentiment. You can see twine loops, enamel dots, and the vibrant holiday cocktail theme more clearly.

Inside of the card with a simple clean layout. The sentiment “Cheers — let’s celebrate!” is stamped in black. In the bottom corner are two small hand-stamped strawberries with subtle watercolour shading and background ink blending.

🥂 Ready to Play Along?

Make a non-traditional Christmas card today and share it with us using
#TSL12daysofChristmas
Maheswari & Rochelle are also playing along — check out their Day 4 designs 👇
Maheswari’s blog
Rochelle’s blog

💌 Want ALL the tutorials + even more inspo?

During these 12 days, Maheswari, Rochelle and I are sharing 36 projects (yes — THIRTY-SIX 😱)…
and Stamping Lounge Members get the full PDF tutorials for every single one!
👉 Join The Stamping Lounge here:
https://www.thestampinglounge.com
Treat yourself — come hang out, be inspired, and craft with us all year ✨

Ready for tomorrow’s challenge?
Day 5 is coming & it’s another juicy one… stay tuned 🎅💕

Happy stamping,

SHOP WITH ME & GET A FREE GIFT & TUTORIAL

PLEASE NOTE: Regardless of when you are viewing this post, this is automatically updated so the information and links listed here are current.

Shop with me in November 2025 to receive a FREE gift, tutorial and handmade card from me to thank you for your order.

Don’t live in Australia but still want to purchase the tutorial? You can purchase it through my tutorial store for $22AUD for instant PDF download. CLICK HERE to purchase.

HAPPENING NOW

The brand new November Global Creative Project tutorial is now out. Earn for free from me for placing an order in my online store or head to my tutorial store and purchase the PDF tutorial.
New Creativity Kits have been released in my online store. Head here to check them out.
A fabulous new Stampin’ Up! class featuring the Brushed with Beauty suite has been announced. Check out all the details for the Stampin’ Up! online classes here.

Events coming soon

These are two upcoming amazing events with The Stamping Lounge run by myself, Maheswari Rajaguru and Rochelle Laird-Smith. We will be running an online class using the brand new Stampin’ Up! Brushed with Beauty Suite and we also have our 12 Days of Advent calendar class that is coming up and open for registration now featuring the Stampin’ Up! 12 Days of Advent Calendar. Click the images or links to find out more and enrol OR sign up to The Stamping Lounge membership to get access to both are these events which are included in the membership.

supplies for day FOUR card

Product List

Cheers & Sips Bundle (English) [165594] $72.75	Traditional Labels Bundle (English) [165865] $76.50	Basic White A4 Thick Cardstock [159230] $30.00	Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper [149612] $15.75	Peaceful Garden 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Glimmer Paper [165929] $18.50
Basic Black A4 Card Stock [121688] $25.00	Versamark Pad [102283] $16.75	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $14.00	Pool Party Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [122933] $9.75	Lemon Lime Twist Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [144092] $9.75
Granny Apple Green Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [147163] $9.75	Lemon Lolly Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [161671] $9.75	Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [119672] $9.75	Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [122934] $9.75	Timid Tiger Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [165283] $9.75
Blackberry Bliss Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [133648] $9.75	Fresh Freesia Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [155612] $9.75	Strawberry Slush Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [165282] $9.75	Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush [141897] $17.50	Pool Party Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154894] $19.25
Basics Wow! Embossing Powder [165679] $37.00	Black & White & Gold Baker's Twine [166005] $15.00	Delightful Decorative Dots [165915] $15.75	Glass & Gardens Embossing Folders [165597] $15.75	Water Painters [168253] $23.00